11-09-2014, 06:58 AM
I'm pleased to say that the MacIsaac trophy (sans plinth) has resurfaced. The MacIsaac tournament as was is no longer so I'm looking for suggestions for what we might do with it. It can either be presented for some achievement but without a dedicated tournament or we can invent a new event. We'll keep the spirit of the old event and make it for grades over 1850. If preference is for a new event we should not overlook potential running costs, so cheap or self-financing.
I did get some suggestions last year:
I do not like a KO system, at least not for individuals. IMO, that
doesn't lend any sort of 'thereness' to the tournament. Who knows
what's going on on an individual basis? If it was feasible to hold
it as weekend Swisses in regional locations, with qualifiers
meeting in a 'final' in a central location later in the season,
that would give it much more prestige and surely raise awareness.
I've always thought that mid-week is an absolute no-no. 'Normal'
chess club activity, plus people have many other commitments on
weeknights (I know I do). I couldn't really contemplate anything
'extra' on a mid-week basis. If others are in a similar boat,
you're not going to get a full uptake.
My 'regional' idea was to divvy the country into four (probably)
Swisses, basically N, S, E & W, with, say, the top three in each
playing a Swiss to provide the champ of champs. The big drawback,
though, would be division of strength, given that most of the
strongest players are based in the Glasgow & Edinburgh areas.
Or maybe it could be run (even as a pilot) as ONE w/end Swiss, open
only to club champs or subs, in a roving location from year to year.
Any other suggestions?
I did get some suggestions last year:
I do not like a KO system, at least not for individuals. IMO, that
doesn't lend any sort of 'thereness' to the tournament. Who knows
what's going on on an individual basis? If it was feasible to hold
it as weekend Swisses in regional locations, with qualifiers
meeting in a 'final' in a central location later in the season,
that would give it much more prestige and surely raise awareness.
I've always thought that mid-week is an absolute no-no. 'Normal'
chess club activity, plus people have many other commitments on
weeknights (I know I do). I couldn't really contemplate anything
'extra' on a mid-week basis. If others are in a similar boat,
you're not going to get a full uptake.
My 'regional' idea was to divvy the country into four (probably)
Swisses, basically N, S, E & W, with, say, the top three in each
playing a Swiss to provide the champ of champs. The big drawback,
though, would be division of strength, given that most of the
strongest players are based in the Glasgow & Edinburgh areas.
Or maybe it could be run (even as a pilot) as ONE w/end Swiss, open
only to club champs or subs, in a roving location from year to year.
Any other suggestions?